Deep Impact

In the high-stakes, fast-paced world of Formula ­, egos –and cars – often clash. We look at the men behind the six greatest, and most entertaining, rivalries in F1 history.

1. Michael Schumacher & Damon Hill 1994-1996
The 1994 season will always be overshadowed by Senna's death, but it was a ­fiercely contested season with Schumacher and Hill separated by one point going into the final race. Though Schumi was leading during the race, he went off and Hill was on him in a flash. As Hill attempted to overtake, Schumi turned aggressively, causing an impact that forced them both to retire. Schumi took the Championship by one point.Race To Watch: ­1994 Australian GP

2. Graham Hill & Jim Clark 1962-1967
Clark and Hill were friends off the track but ­ fierce rivals on it – the Sixties saw many races with the two ­ finishing within seconds of each other. In the 1964 British GP, Hill pushed his slower BRM car to the limit to challenge Clark, and the two ­ finished over a minute ahead of everyone else, both ­ fighting hard until the last corner.Race To Watch: 1962­ United States GP

3. Niki Lauda & James Hunt 1976
The '76 season remains one of the most dramatic in history. Lauda led for the ­ first half, but after an accident in Germany, which burnt and dis­figured his face (but saw him miss only two races), he lost ground to the plucky Hunt, who drove his McLaren almost perfectly. It wasn't until the­ final race of the season that Hunt edged past to win by a point.Race To Watch: 1976 Spanish GP

4. Ayrton Senna & Alain Prost 1985-1993
The bitter rivalry between F1's two most talented drivers is one of the most famous across sports. They hated everything the other stood for: Prost was cool and calculated, and had FIA president Balestre's ear; Senna was brash and aggressive, and was the people's champion. Every race between the two is a classic – both for Senna's matchless talent and Prost's superb analytical skills.Race To Watch: ­1989 Japanese GP

5. Nigel Mansell & Nelson Piquet 1985-1987
When Williams paired the two most ­ fiery drivers on the grid in1986, it set sparks ? flying. Piquet disliked Mansell's upstart ambitions, while the Pommie hated Piquet's win-at-all-costs attitude. They actively tried to wrestle points from each other, which in '86 saw Prost sneak past both for the title. Both remain disliked by F1 fans, but their insane competition is one of the most enduring in F1 history.Race To Watch: ­1987British GP

6. Mika Häkkinen & Michael Schumacher 1998-2001
The two made the late Nineties an incredible time for F1, both unwilling to let up or be intimidated. Whenever one made even a fraction of an error, the other seized the opportunity to make a pass. The most spectacular of these was at Spa in 2000, when Häkkinen passed both Schumi and backmarker Ricardo Zonta in what has been described as the best overtaking manoeuver of all time.Race To Watch: 2000 Belgian GP